Self-assembled morphology of tripod nanoparticle solutions: the effect of arm length and hydrophobic ratio

Abstract

We have studied the self-assembled morphologies of tripod nanoparticle solutions confined in nanoslits using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. In the present study, composite-shaped nanoparticles, like a planar tripod model with an amphiphilic surface pattern, were also synthesized experimentally. Using the DPD results at various values of a hydrophobic ratio (HR) and arm length (AL), we create phase diagrams of the self-assembled morphologies of tripod nanoparticles. With each of the two parameters, we observe three morphologies in the tripod nanoparticle solution. Further, potential energy vs. temperature for various tripod nanoparticle solutions is compared for different self-assembled structures. Our simulations offer a guide to control the morphologies of self-assembled tripod nanoparticles, which constitute novel systems that may find applications in nanofluidic devices.